Egg grader



Oct. 31, 196 o. c. NIEDERER ETAL 3,349,907

. EGG GRADER Original Filed Jan. 22, 1963 '2 Sheets-Sheer Iv INVENTORSOTTO CJV/EDERER v HERBERT ON/EDERER (SW 6 40/ k A TTOR/VE) Oct. 31, 1967o. c. NIEDERER ETAL 3,349,907

EGG GRADER Original Filed Jan. 22, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheetv :2

INVENTORS O T 70 C. N/EDERER HERBERT O.N/E0RER JW W A TTOR/VE) UnitedStates Patent 3,349,907 EGG GRADER Gtto C. Niederer, Bear Tavern Road,and Herbert O.

Niederer, Church Road, both of Titusville, NJ.

08560 Continuation of application Ser. No. 253,098, Jan. 22, 1963. Thisapplication Oct. 11, 1965, Ser. No. 494,415

3 Claims. (Cl. 20912l) This invention relates to egg-grading equipmentand is a continuation of co-pending application Ser. No. 253,098, filedJ an. 22, 1963, and now abandoned.

The egg grader shown and described in said e c-pending application isdesigned to handle large numbers of eggs in a relatively high speedoperation as is required in modern plants such as egg auctions,cooperative plants and wholesale establishments. For this purpose, theegg grader is of the general type shown in US. Patents Nos. 2,246,597and 3,077,257. However, even when using such an egg grader, it has notbeen possible heretofore to speed up the grading of eggs appreciablywhen using balance beams which are accurately adjusted to tilt anddischarge eggs of a predetermined weight. One of the causes for thedelays encountered in such weighing operations is due to the tendencyfor the eggs to roll or rock about on the conveyor bar on which they aresupported when the bar is moved rapidly and in a horizontal direction inconveying the eggs from one weighing device to another.

Another and even more serious cause for delays and inaccuracy in thegrading of eggs at high speed is due to the tendency for the eggs toroll or rock back and forth on the rails by which they are supported onthe balance beam. This problem is particularly troublesome when an eggis relatively short and round, since it is most desirable for the eggsto be held substantially motionless during the weighing operation inorder to assure the desired accuracy in grading. Moreover, if an egg isdisplaced a substantial distance from the center of the rails on thebalance beam, the response of the balance beam may be delayed orinaccurate. Furthermore, in every case where the egg is of border-lineweight, the response of the scale tends to be slow and deliberate.

In accordance with the present invention, the transfer bar by which theeggs being graded are moved from one position to another is providedwith depressions or other means which prevent or reduce the rocking,rolling, or longitudinal movement of eggs with respect thereto.Moreover, the rails secured to the balance beam of the scales employedare provided with means presenting specific points of support or contactwith the eggs deposited thereon so that the eggs will not rock or moveappreciably after they are deposited on the rails and the location ofthe eggs with respect to the balance beam is not variable during aweighing operation and is more positively established.

In this way, the eggs being graded are caused to assume and remain insubstantially fixed positions with respect to the egg transferring meansand the balance beams, and rocking or longitudinal dislocation of theeggs is reduced so that the speed at which they are moved and weighedcan be increased materially.

Accordingly, the principal objects of the present invention are toincrease the speed at which eggs may be graded while maintaining thedesired accuracy of the grading operation, to reduce the relativemovement of eggs with respect to the members by which they are supportedduring the grading of eggs, and to provide improved egg-transferring andegg-receiving means employed in grading eggs by a weight.

These and other objects and features of the present invention willappear from the following description there- 3,349,967 Patented Oct. 31,1967 of wherein reference is made panying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective showing a typical form of egg grader in whichthe present invention may be embodied;

FIG. 2 is a perspective illustrating portions of the egg transfer meansand egg-weighing scale employed in the egg-grading equipment illustratedin FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective illustrating an alternative form of egg-weighingscale embodying the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view through the portion of the weighingscale shown in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the construction shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

In that form of the invention chosen for purposes of illustration inFIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the egg grader is of a multiple typewherein two rows of eggs indicated at 2 and 4 are movable along inclinedchannel means 6 to positions in which they may be picked up and advancedby a conveyor bar 8. The conveyor bar is moved in an elliptical path bya motor 10. For this purpose, the crank 12 driven by the motor 10 isconnected to the conveyor bar 8 by a link 14; whereas, the verticalmovement of the conveyor bar is effected by the operation of rockingmembers 16 which are also actuated by the motor 10.

T he construction thus provided serves to lift eggs from the upper endsof the inclined channels 6 and advance them to the weighing devices 18.Each weighing device is provided with a balance beam 20 movable onpivots supported by the standards 22. The balance beams are adjusted torespond to progressively decreasing weights so that the heaviest eggswill be discharged onto the first collecting tray 24 by tilting of thebalance beams of the first group of weighing devices. The lighter eggsdo not cause the balance beams to tilt and, therefore, are picked up bythe conveyor bar 8 and moved on to the next group of weighing devices.If the eggs are of the proper weight, they will then be discharged ontothe next collecting tray 26, whereas, smaller or lighter eggs are thenmoved on to other weighing devices located along the path of movement ofthe conveyor bar 8.

In order to permit the eggs to be graded rapidly, the conveyor bar 8must be moved at rather high speed, and in practice, the eggs tend torock or to roll lengthwise of the conveyor bar during the longitudinalmovement whereby they may be displaced or off-center when the conveyorbar moves downward to deposit the eggs on the parallel rails 30 mountedon the ends of the balance beams 20. This difficulty increases greatlyas the speed of movement of the conveyor bar is increased and may evencause rela tively round eggs to roll a sufiicient distance lengthwise ofthe conveyor bar to miss a weighing device completely or to rollsideways off the conveyor bar.

In order to reduce or prevent such displacement of eggs relative to theconveyor bar, the bar is preferably provided with recesses, concavities,or other egg-holding or positioning means 32 which serve to hold theeggs carried thereby in positions which are centered with respect to theegg-supply channels upon upward movement of the conveyor bar andcentered with respect to the rails 30 of the weighing devices upondownward movement of the conveyor bar. The eggs are thereby held againstundesired longitudinal movement relative to the conveyor bar even thoughthe longitudinal movement of the bar is greatly accelerated.

Even when the eggs are accurately positioned and held on the conveyorbar 8, they frequently rock or roll lengthwise of the rails 30 of theweighing devices 18. However, in accordance with the present invention,one of the rails 30 of the weighing devices is formed to position andhold the eggs deposited on the rails so that they will not rock or bedisplaced. The weighing device can, therefore, be reto the figures ofthe accomleased more promptly after it receives an egg and need not beheld inactive for the usual period allowed to permit the eggs to becomestable.

As shown in FIG. 2, one of the rails 30 is provided with a reducedportion 34 which presents corners or edges 36 located intermediate theends of the rails. Therefore, whenever an egg is deposited on the rails,it will engage the edges 36 so as to rest upon spaced points whichprevent rocking or rolling of the eggs lengthwise of the rails. Each eggwill thus be accurately positioned and held still immediately uponplacement thereof on the rails. Thereafter the weighing operation mayproceed in the usual manner to grade the egg by weight or to hold it ina fixed position so that it will be received and held by the recess orholding means 32 on the conveyor bar 8 during the next cycle ofoperation.

When holding means, such as the edges 36 of the reduced portion 34 of arail 30, are provided on only one of the rails as shown, such holdingmeans may be presented on the rail 30 which is farthest removed from thepivot means of the balance beam 20 as shown in FIG. 2. In thealternative, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, it is sometimes desirable andmay even be preferable to provide the weighing device with egg-holdingmeans such as a recess 40 in the egg-supporting rail 42 which is closestto the pivot means about which the balance beam is tiltable.

When using either form of the invention, the cooperating spaced eggsupporting rails on the balance beam on which the eggs to be weighed aredeposited, are formed so that the eggs are caused to rest on threespaced points for support. With this construction, when the eggs arebeing lowered into position on the rails of the weighing device, anytwisted or displaced egg will tend to engage one, or perhaps two, pointsof support before engaging the third point of support on the rails.Accordingly, for a brief interval of time, the eggs are free to shift ormove into a weighing position wherein their long axes are parallel tothe eg -supporting rails. Thereafter, when the eggs are fully loweredonto the weighing device and supported against movement at three pointsthereon, they will not only be held against rocking or rolling relativeto the rails of the weighing device but will also be properly orientedand positioned for consistent and accurate weighing thereof.

That form of the invention shown in FIG. 2 has cer- 4 tain alvantages,particularly when the eggs being weighed are substantially consistent inshape, as when they are obtained from a single flock of chickens of thesame strain. As there shown, the rail 30 which is farthest removed fromthe pivot point about which the balance beam 20 is tiltable, is reducedin diameter at the midportion 34 thereof, to present spacedegg-supporting points 36. Eggs lowered onto the rails of the weighingdevice by the conveyor bar 8 are thereby properly oriented and heldagainst rocking movement to permit immediate and accurate weighingthereof. Moreover, as the balance beam 20 and the rails 30 tilt, theeggs may be discharged more readily from the weighing device wherebyborderline eggs which cause the balance beam to tilt relatively slowlywill nevertheless be discharged promptly so as to speed up the weighingoperation.

The alternative construction shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, is found in manycases to be preferred, particularly when the eggs to be graded arereceived from various sources and from various strains of birds. It isthen found that the shape of the eggs may vary considerably even thoughthey may be of the same weight. For example, experience has shown thatthe eggs obtained from one strain of birds are consistently relativelylong and correspondingly smaller in diameter, whereas the eggs obtainedfrom another strain of birds may be considerably shorter. Thus, eggs mayvary by as much as Mr inch in their diameter while still having the sameweight per dozen and, therefore, being of the same size as establishedby most standards and regulations and as determined by egg gradingequipment which grade eggs by weight. Moreover, the center of gravity ofeggs which are relatively large in diameter will be elevated above thefront egg-supporting rail of the balance a greater distance than thecenter of gravity of a longer egg of smaller diameter. As a result, theshorter rounder eggs will tend to be discharged from the weighing deviceupon tilting of the balance beam through a lesser angle than is requiredfor effecting the discharge of an egg of smaller diameter, the accuracyof the weighing operation is often influenced by the shape of the eggsbeing graded.

Accordingly, when eggs which vary considerably in diameter or shape areto be graded, the rails of the weighing device, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4and 5, may be employed. As there shown, the rail 38 which is farthestremoved from the pivot point of the balance beam 20 is preferablyuniform in diameter so as to provide only a single point of contact withan egg deposited thereon. The inner rail 42 which is closer to the pivot21 of the balance beam 20 is then formed with a recess 40 or portion ofreduced diameter to present two spaced points of support 44 engageableby an egg to be weighed.

With this construction, an egg A which is relatively long but of smalldiameter will engage the points of support 44 on the inner rail 42 andbe positioned with its center of gravity X substantially centeredbetween the rails 38 and 42. On the other hand, an egg B which isshorter and rounder and therefore larger in diameter, will extendfarther into the recess 40 between the points of support 44 on the innerrail 42. The rounder egg B will thus be caused to move inward orrearwardly a short distance toward the pivot point of the balance beam20. Its center of gravity Y will also be located somewhat furtherrearwardly from the rail 38 of the weighing device than the center ofgravity X of the elongated egg A. Its center of gravity Y will still belocated above the center of gravity X of the egg A but it will also belocated somewhat farther rearwardly from the front rail 38 of theweighing device. Thereafter on tilting of the balance beam 20 and theegg-supporting rails 38 and 42 thereof to the dotted line position ofFIG. 4, the center of gravity of either the elongated egg A and that ofthe rounded egg B will be moved to positions as indicated at X and Y insubstantial vertical alignment above the front rail 38. The eggs,whatever their shape, will therefore be discharged from the weighingdevice upon tilting of the balance beam through substantially the sameangle. The uniformity and accuracy of the Weighing operation istherefore increased whereby the equipment may be used to grade eggswhich differ considerably in shape.

In each of the alternative forms of the invention shown in the drawingsthe three point contact between the egg and the supporting rails of theweighing device serves to prevent rocking of the eggs deposited thereonwhile permitting limited orientation or adjustment in the position ofthe eggs with respect to the weighing device as the eggs are depositedon the rails. This action, together with the greater uniformity in theweighing operation afforded by the novel construction, renders itpossible to speed up the equipment and increase its egg grading capacityvery greatly.

While the equipment shown and described has two eggfeeding channels fordirecting eggs to the conveyor bar 8, the invention may be employed whenany desired number of eggs are supplied to and advanced by the conveyorbar on each cycle of operation.

It will also be apparent that the egg grading equipment may be providedwith any preferred form or type of locking means for the weighingdevices as exemplified by the construction shown in US. Patent No.2,692,133. Similarly, if desired, the conveyor bar may have eggdischargemeans such as that shown in U.S. Patent No. 2,646,168. Moreover, theinvention may be used in combination with other forms and types ofegg-grading equipv intended to be illustrative only and is not intendedto limit the scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. Egg-grading equipment embodying a plurality of weighing devicesspaced apart longitudinally of the equipment, each of said weighingdevices being provided with a balance beam having a pivot about which itis movable and having two spaced egg-receiving members secured to thebalance beam adjacent one end thereof, eggmoving means movable in anelliptical path and in a vertical plane between the spaced memberssecured to the balance beam and above and below said members foradvancing eggs from one of said weighing devices to another, saidegg-moving means presenting an upwardly facing surface with elementsthereon for opposing longitudinal movement of eggs relative to saidmeans during longitudinal movement of the egg-moving means, saidelements being positioned to register with the spaced members on thebalance beams upon movement of the egg-moving means vertically betweensaid members, the spaced egg-receiving members secured to the balancebeams being in the form of parallel rails, the rail which is fartherfrom the pivot of the balance beam being of substantially uniformdiameter near the central portion thereof and the other rail having acentral portion with a cavity therein presenting spaced pointsengageable by eggs deposited on said rails whereby said rails cooperateto present three points of contact with an egg, two of which points ofcontact are spaced a lesser distance from the pivot about which thebalance beam is movable than is the other point of contact.

2. Egg-grading equipment embodying a plurality of weighing devicesspaced apart longitudinally of the equipment, each of said weighingdevices being provided with a balance beam having a pivot about which itis movable and having two spaced egg-receiving members secured to thebalance beam adjacent one end thereof, eggmoving means movable in anelliptical path and in a vertical plane between the spaced memberssecured to the balance beam and above and below said members foradvancing eggs from one of'said weighing devices to another, saidegg-moving means presenting an upwardly facing surface with elementsthereon for opposing longitudinal movement of eggs relative to saidmeans during longitudinal movement of the egg-moving means, s i e ment bi g positioned to register with the paced members on the balance beamsupon movement of the egg-moving means vertically between said members,the spaced egg-receiving members secured to the balance beams being inthe form of parallel rails, the rail which is closer to the pivot of thebalance beam being of substantially uniform diameter near the centralportion thereof and the other rail having a central portion with acavity therein presenting spaced points engageable by eggs deposited onsaid rails whereby said rails cooperate to present three points ofcontact with an egg, two of which points of contact are spaced a greaterdistance from the pivot about which the balance beam is movable than isthe other point of contact.

3. Egg-grading equipment embodying a plurality of weighing devicesspaced apart longitudinally of the equipment, each of said weghingdevices being provided with a balance beam having a pivot about which itis movable and having two spaced egg-receiving members secured to thebalance beam adjacent one end thereof, egg-moving means movable in anelliptical path and in a vertical plane between the spaced memberssecured to the balance beam and above and below said members foradvancing eggs from one of said weighing devices to another, saideggmoving means presenting an upwardly facing surface with elementsthereon for opposing longitudinal movement of egg relative to said meansduring longitudinal movement of the egg-moving means, said elementsbeing positioned to register with the spaced members on the balancebeams upon movement of the egg-moving means vertically be tween saidmembers, the spaced egg-receiving members secured to the balance beamsbeing in the form of parallel rails, one of said rails beingsubstantially uniform in diameter near the central portion thereof andthe other of said rails having a central portion with a cavity thereinpresenting two spaced points engageable by eggs deposited on said railswhereby said rails cooperate to present three points of contact witheach egg supported thereby two of which points are located on one ofsaid rails and spaced a predetermined distance from the pivot aboutwhich said balance beam is movable and the other of said points beinglocated on the other of said rails and spaced a different distance fromthe pivot about which said balance beam is movable.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,875,811 9/1932 Hilgers 209-121X 2,461,308 2/1949 Brown 209-121 2,692,133 10/1954 Niederer 209-1213,010,578 11/1961 Butterfield 209121 ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

1. EGG-GRADING EQUIPMENT EMBODYING A PLURALITY OF WEIGHTING DEVICESSPACED APART LONGITUDINALLY OF THE EQUIPMENT EACH OF SAID WEIGHINGDEVICES BEING PROVIDED WITH A BALANCE BEAM HAVING A PIVOT ABOUT WHICH ITIS MOVABLE AND HAVING TWO SPACED EGG-RECEIVING MEMBERS SECURED TO THEBALANCE BEAM ADJACENT ONE END THEREOF, EGGMOVING MEANS MOVABLE IN ANELLIPTICAL PATH AND IN A VERTICAL PLANE BETWEEN THE SPACED MEMBERSSECURED TO THE BALANCE BEAM AND ABOVE AND BELOW SAID MEMBERS FORADVANCING EGGS FROM ONE OF SAID WEIGHING DEVICE TO ANOTHER, SAIDEGG-MOVING MEANS PRESENTING AN UPWARDLY FACING SURFACE WITH ELEMENTSTHEREON FOR OPPOSING LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT OF EGGS RELATIVE TO SAIDMEANS DURING LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT OF THE EGG-MOVING MEANS, SAIDELEMENTS BEING POSITIONED TO REGISTER WITH THE SPACED MEMBERS ON THEBALANCE BEAMS UPON MOVEMENT OF THE EGG-MOVING MEANS VERTICALLY BETWEENSAID MEMBERS, THE SPACED EGG-RECEIVING MEMBERS SECURED TO THE BALANCEBEAMS BEING IN THE FORM OF PARALLEL RAILS, THE RAIL WHICH IS FARTHERFROM THE PIVOT OF THE BALANCE BEAM BEING OF SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORMDIAMETER NEAR THE CENTRAL PORTION THEREOF AND THE OTHER RAIL HAVING ACENTRAL PORTION WITH A CAVITY THEREIN PRESENTING SPACED POINTSENGAGEABLE BY EGGS DEPOSITED ON SAID RAILS WHEREBY SAID RAILS COOPERATETO PRESENT THREE POINTS OF CONTACT WITH AN EGG, TWO OF WHICH POINTS OFCONTACT ARE SPACED A LESSER DISTANCE FROM THE PIVOT ABOUT WHICH THEBALANCE BEAM IS MOVABLE THAN IS THE OTHER POINT OF CONTACT.